The Best Records of 2019

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They say that bad politics makes for good music. 2019 was another step in the wrong direction in many ways but at least the adage has been proved true, with the release of a number of great albums directly confronting the screwed up realities of the day. It was a year that saw the breakthrough of some promising young stars, the return of some long-absent metal legends, and the rise and rise of British hip-hop. Here’s my favourite records of the year, starting with:

(25)

Stormzy – Heavy Is The Head
Man of the hour Stormzy caps off a year which saw him headline Glastonbury with a sophomore album that finds him on reflective form. He’s lost none of his lyrical ability, but the braggadocio is sidelined this time out in favour of some thoughtful ruminations on the impact of fame – it’s a worthy second album that promises more yet to come.

Best track: Big Michael

(24)

Biffy Clyro – Balance, Not Symmetry 
A surprise release to accompany the film of the same name, Balance, Not Symmetry may not be considered a mainstream Biffy album, but if anything it’s a step up from their previous record. A thrilling fusion of the abstract hardcore of their early years with the more mellow sounds of their later era, it’s the sound of a band sounding as free and happy as they have in years.

Best track: All Singing And All Dancing

(23)

Big Thief – U.F.O.F.
At their best folk-rock favourites Big Thief can be a mesmerising band and so it proves on U.F.O.F. The better of two records they released this year, it’s a hazy, ethereal wonder, aided by the almost eerie falsetto of vocalist Adrianne Lenker.

Best track: U.F.O.F. 

(22)

Angel Olsen – All Mirrors
A performer whose music evolves with each new record, Angel Olsen took on baroque pop with All Mirrors and comes through with flying colours. Always one of the best vocalists in the business, she adds to her repertoire a Bowie-esque atmosphere to make the man himself proud.

Best track: All Mirrors

(21)

Tyler, The Creator – IGOR
Tyler, The Creator has always been an artist who has defied easy labelling and so it proves with IGOR, a record that’s part hip-hop, part funk, part soul, and entirely unique. It’s the sound of an artist continuing to mature and though some may miss the rawness of his earlier work there’s something deeply impressive about his refusal to rest on his laurels.

Best track: I Think

(20)

Calva Louise – Rhinoceros
If there’s any justice in the world there’s big things on the horizon for Calva Louise, currently one of the most exciting young bands in Britain. Debut album Rhinoceros is a thunderous rock record and an exciting sign of things to come.

Best track: I’m Gonna Do Well

(19)

Slipknot – We Are Not Your Kind
It’s been a turbulent few years for Slipknot but you’d never know it from We Are Not Your Kind, their first release in 5 years. It’s a thrilling metal opus brimming with energy and rage, and it’s comfortably their  best release since 2003’s Vol. 3.

Best track: Nero Forte 

(18)

Blood Command – Return of the Arsonist
Norwegian pop-metallers Blood Command may not be the biggest or most influential bands around. They are, however, consistently one of the most fun. With EP Return of the Arsonist they deliver an 11 minute slice of pop-punk gold that’s never less than exhilarating.

Best track: S01E02.Return.Of.The.Arsonist.720p.HDTV.x264

(17)

Jade Bird – Jade Bird
She may hail from Northumberland but Americana drips from Jade Bird’s self-titled debut album. Reminiscent of Sheryl Crow in the best possible way, Jade Bird is a hugely exciting release from a talent to watch.

Best track: Uh Huh

(16)

Self Esteem – Compliments Please
Former Slow Club vocalist Rebecca Taylor makes a hugely confident start to her solo career with Compliments Please, an impressively ambitious soul-infused pop album that allows her to show off her songwriting skills in all their glory.

Best track: In Time

(15)

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Ghosteen
Nick Cave’s previous album, the devastating Skeleton Key, was one of my favourite albums of 2016. On follow-up Ghosteen he once again confronts heartbreaking loss, but it’s an album run through with hope and empathy. Another display of rare virtuoso talent, Ghosteen is never less than hauntingly beautiful.

Best track: Galleon Ship

(14)

Sigrid – Sucker Punch
Sigrid’s debut album was a long time coming – after all smash hit ‘Don’t Kill My Vibe’ came out all the way back in 2016 – but it turned out to be worth the wait. It’s pure pop gold and one of the most joyous and catchy records of the year.

Best track: Sight Of You

(13)

Rammstein – Rammstein
Their first album in a decade, German metal legends Rammstein’s self-titled return delivered the goods and then some. This time out there’s hints of a pop sensibility behind their trademark industrial noise, but they’ve lost none of their power or their twisted lyrical ingenuity.

Best track: Deutschland

(12)

Sleater-Kinney – The Center Won’t Hold
Sleater-Kinney’s ninth record (and their last with longstanding drummer Janet Weiss, who departed this year) finds them on top form. It’s a beast of a record packed to the gills with lust and venom, and dripping with righteous feminist fury.

Best track: Hurry On Home

(11)

The Twilight Sad – It Won/t Be Like This All The Time
Scottish misery merchants The Twilight Sad’s fifth album is arguably their best release yet. It’s a pulsating post-punk powerhouse of a record, replete with rich sonic textures and (whisper it) offering up some hints of hope behind the sadness.

Best track: I/m Not Here [Missing Face]

(10)

The Gloaming – The Gloaming 3
The Gloaming – something of an Irish traditional supergroup – may not be well known outside of trad circles, but on their third record they demonstrate that they remain absolute masters of their craft. It’s an album of rare deftness and beauty that deserves to be widely heard.

Best track: The Lobster

(9)

Foals – Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Parts 1 & 2
Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost was technically released as two separate records so I’m cheating slightly by including them under one entry. Either way, both parts see Foals doing what Foals do best – they’re part hard-rock monsters, part dance-indie maestros.

Best track: In Degrees

(8)

PUP – Morbid Stuff
PUP have reliably been one of the best punk acts around since their formation and Morbid Stuff is arguably their best release yet – a soaring and acerbically funny anti-Hallmark ode to sarcasm and spite.

Best track: Morbid Stuff

(7)

Tool – Fear Inoculum
If any fans had worried that metal legends Tool might have lost their edge in the 13 years they’ve been away, Fear Inoculum swiftly lays those fears to rest. It’s a prog rock behemoth of a record, dense and rich, with vocalist Maynard James Keenan on top form.

Best track: Pneuma

(6)

Frightened Rabbit and Various Artists – Tiny Changes
Initially planned to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Frightened Rabbit’s seminal album The Midnight Organ Fight, Tiny Changes took on a deeper meaning following lead singer Scott Hutchison’s tragic death last year. A collection of covers of Midnight Organ Fight‘s tracks, each performed by a different act, it’s a testament to the still-haunting power of Hutchison’s song-writing and the profound admiration he inspired in those around him.

Best track: The Modern Leper (by Biffy Clyro)

(5)

Employed to Serve – Eternal Forward Motion
Employed to Serve’s ferocious third album is an all-out assault on the senses – a 40 minute hurricane of aggression built on crunching riffs and frontwoman Justine Jones’ astonishing torn-from-the-depths-of-hell vocals. An essential own for metal fans.

Best track: Harsh Truth

(4)

Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride
They’ve always been a band with a wide range of influences and Vampire Weekend’s first release in six years has a notable country music twang. Contrasting dark lyrics with bright and danceable tunes, it’s the sound of one of the best bands in the world at their most confident.

Best track: This Life

(3)

Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel
Dublin-hailing Fontaines D.C. have been one of the breakthrough acts of the year and Dogrel is a poetic ode to their home city, warts and all. Fusing post-punk with elements of spoken word and traces of The Pogues, it’s a fascinating album from a fascinating band.

Best track: Too Real

(2)

Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
2019 saw Billie Eilish release her first album, hit number one across the world and become won of the biggest acts in the world. Not bad for someone who just turned 18 a  couple of weeks ago. When We All Fall Asleep is a weird and wonderful pop record, the work of someone who is musically accomplished well beyond her years.

Best track: When The Party’s Over

(1)

Dave – Psychodrama
Dave’s been building a name for himself as one of the best rappers in Britain for some time, and debut album Psychodrama is proof that he has well and truly arrived. Arguably the best British hip-hop album ever, it’s an intense, powerful and sometimes devastating portrait of what it means to be young and black in Britain.

Best track: Black